Phyllis Louise “Nana” Richie, 74, of Desoto, Texas, passed away on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at Sundance Senior Living Residential Care in Arlington, Texas. Funeral services will be 10 a.m., Wednesday, November 27, 2024, at Chisholm Trail Church of Christ, with Leonard Keele officiating. Burial will follow at 2 p.m. at Fairlawn Cemetery in Chickasha, Oklahoma under the direction of Whitt Funeral Home. The family will receive friends on Tuesday evening, 5-7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Phyllis was born March 14, 1950 in Chickasha to Earl Harland Wilkins and Marjorie (Kemp Wilkins) Moore. She graduated from Chickasha High School in 1968, completed her bachelor’s degree in history and geography at Oklahoma College of Liberal Arts (now USAO) in Chickasha and had a master’s degree in instructional technology/library media from the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond.
She married Raymond Leon Richie on December 20, 1969 at the College Chapel in Chickasha and was a member of Chisholm Trail Church of Christ in Duncan. For 31 years, Phyllis was the District Librarian & Media Specialist Director for Duncan Public Schools, with responsibility for eight elementary schools, training assistants at each school and overseeing installation of a new library system.
Before that, she taught eighth grade civics for Chickasha Public Schools for ten years and worked with students at the Jane Brooks School for the Deaf. Phyllis retired from Duncan Public Schools in May 2012, with her last position as the Librarian for Mark Twain Elementary School. But her love of both books and children led her out of retirement to her next accomplishment as the Coordinator for Readers and Leaders, a Duncan Public Schools program sponsored by the United Way of Stephens County.
Phyllis was well known for her fashion eye. She loved all colors and a huge fan of a colorful Leslie Lucks dress! She loved coordinating her outfits with an array of jewelry such as earrings, necklaces, bracelets and more. The bigger the better. And her shoe styles always added that extra pizzazz to any outfit.
Phyllis is survived her children: Mia (Sheldon) Liggins of Desoto, Texas and Philip “Dougie” (Ashlee) Richie of Durant; brothers: Earl Wilkins, Clavin Wilkins, both of Chickasha, and Albert (Rhonda) Moore of OKC; sister: Anita Wilkins of Chickasha; grandchildren: Kira (Otis) Alexis of Grand Prairie, Texas, Bryson Richie, Alyssa Richie of Duncan and Alexus (Jared) King of Dibble; “bonus” grandchildren: Camdon Richie of Duncan, Kyla and Deonta Hartsfield of OKC and MarShon Williams of Durant; and NINE great grandsons: Justin, Marquee, Maxx, Otis, Miles, Milo, Kyrie, Dawson and Khalil; aunts: Rita (Robert) Maloney of Chickasha, Ruth Kemp of Wichita, Kansas; brother-in-law, Mamsa (Syedah) Islam of OKC; sisters-in-law: Marilyn Jacobs of Florence, SC and Eileen Steadman of OKC; and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, other relatives and friends. Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband Raymond, her parents, and two brothers: Bernard Wilkins and Charles Wilkins.
Pallbearers will be Philip Richie, Albert Moore, Clavon Wilkins, Joseph McClendon, Trisrielle Moore and Randy Pippin. Honorary bearers will be Earl Wilkins, Mamsa Islam, LeRoy Taylor and J.D. Williams.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Duncan Public School Foundation.
Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.whittfh.com.
Phyllis was born March 14, 1950 in Chickasha to Earl Harland Wilkins and Marjorie (Kemp Wilkins) Moore. She graduated from Chickasha High School in 1968, completed her bachelor’s degree in history and geography at Oklahoma College of Liberal Arts (now USAO) in Chickasha and had a master’s degree in instructional technology/library media from the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond.
She married Raymond Leon Richie on December 20, 1969 at the College Chapel in Chickasha and was a member of Chisholm Trail Church of Christ in Duncan. For 31 years, Phyllis was the District Librarian & Media Specialist Director for Duncan Public Schools, with responsibility for eight elementary schools, training assistants at each school and overseeing installation of a new library system.
Before that, she taught eighth grade civics for Chickasha Public Schools for ten years and worked with students at the Jane Brooks School for the Deaf. Phyllis retired from Duncan Public Schools in May 2012, with her last position as the Librarian for Mark Twain Elementary School. But her love of both books and children led her out of retirement to her next accomplishment as the Coordinator for Readers and Leaders, a Duncan Public Schools program sponsored by the United Way of Stephens County.
Phyllis was well known for her fashion eye. She loved all colors and a huge fan of a colorful Leslie Lucks dress! She loved coordinating her outfits with an array of jewelry such as earrings, necklaces, bracelets and more. The bigger the better. And her shoe styles always added that extra pizzazz to any outfit.
Phyllis is survived her children: Mia (Sheldon) Liggins of Desoto, Texas and Philip “Dougie” (Ashlee) Richie of Durant; brothers: Earl Wilkins, Clavin Wilkins, both of Chickasha, and Albert (Rhonda) Moore of OKC; sister: Anita Wilkins of Chickasha; grandchildren: Kira (Otis) Alexis of Grand Prairie, Texas, Bryson Richie, Alyssa Richie of Duncan and Alexus (Jared) King of Dibble; “bonus” grandchildren: Camdon Richie of Duncan, Kyla and Deonta Hartsfield of OKC and MarShon Williams of Durant; and NINE great grandsons: Justin, Marquee, Maxx, Otis, Miles, Milo, Kyrie, Dawson and Khalil; aunts: Rita (Robert) Maloney of Chickasha, Ruth Kemp of Wichita, Kansas; brother-in-law, Mamsa (Syedah) Islam of OKC; sisters-in-law: Marilyn Jacobs of Florence, SC and Eileen Steadman of OKC; and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, other relatives and friends. Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband Raymond, her parents, and two brothers: Bernard Wilkins and Charles Wilkins.
Pallbearers will be Philip Richie, Albert Moore, Clavon Wilkins, Joseph McClendon, Trisrielle Moore and Randy Pippin. Honorary bearers will be Earl Wilkins, Mamsa Islam, LeRoy Taylor and J.D. Williams.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Duncan Public School Foundation.
Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.whittfh.com.
